Saturday, April 22, 2006

For those of you who read books about the history of comic books then you must know that this year is the 35th anniversary of "Comix A History of Comic Books in America." It was written in 1971 by Les Daniels. This was the first book I ever read about the history of comic books. The cover of the book caught my attention with Bannana Man (in his only apperance)hitting a pig flying in a plane called the Miss Understood. I was never quite sure if there was any meaning to the cover but I always imagined that it reffered to World War II since it had a bi-plane in the background. Perhaps the pig was a Nazi Swine.Not only did I like the cover but I learned alot about my favorite medium when I read it. The one place where I have to praise Mr. Daniels is getting the rights to reprint the various comic stories. Sure I was happy to read the Superman story but there was a Plastic Man I had never read too. It was the first time I ever heard of Blackhawk, Wonder Wart-Hog and the Freak Brothers. My favorites were the EC stories. One of them is the best war story ever written. "Big If" has a solider Paul Maynard looking at five post with painted faces on them. He keeps asking himself questions line "If only Paul Maynard had not stopped to buckle his boot." "If only Paul Maynard had not stopped to look at his watch." He keeps asking himself these questions till he dies because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. As always the best war story is an anti war story.I wasn't that crazy about the last chapter. It involved the underground comics. They were pretty racey at the time if my memory is correct. I was shocked to see them in this book so I tore out the last chapter. Later my cousin Randy got a copy of the book from the library. His parents saw the last chapter and didn't like it either. He told them that I had a copy of the book. Of course his Mom told my Mom. When she asked me aboiut it I proudly told her that I took it out of my copy.So Mr. Daniels thanks for the book and the memories. Just wish you didn't feel the need to include the last chapter.

No Mike Nesmith may not be the real father of MTV. If you have the book Comix A History of Comic Books in America by Les Daniels look at Chapeter 6 The New Comic Books. On one page in the upper right hand corner is this cartoon by Al Jaffee when he worked for Humbug. As you can see he combined Rock music with wrestling to make the first music video. So for those of us who like MTV, VH1 and music videos we can thank Nez and Jaffee.

Friday, April 21, 2006

There is a blooper in this part of the strip. In the strip up to this point Mumbles has been wearing a shirt unbuttoned at the collar. You can see it in the first strip on this page. In the last panel he is sitting on the window ledge getting ready to jump. However, in the color Sunday section he has not moved from the ledge but is now suddenly wearing a bow tie. Nice of Dick Locher to dress up Mumbles for his big scene.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

When I was younger my whole family would get together for almost every holiday. Aunts, Uncles and cousins would suddenly converge on my Grandma's house where my parents and I lived until I was 13 years old. During Easter my cousins and I would always have an egg hunt like most families did on that day. One I remember better then the others. After the hunt I was standing on the porch with some cousins and my other cousins were on the sidewalk in front of us. We were all talking when suddenly someone took an egg out of their basket and threw it at one of us. Did that person say something that they didn't like? Was it thrown in fun? I believe it was done in fun but we may never know. All I know is soon we were all throwing our eggs and having the time of our lives. Soon our baskets were empty and we were all laughing. At least till our parents came outside to see what all the noise was about. I don't remember being punished for it but I do remember our parents not happy with us wasting our easter eggs. Hey they weren't really wasted. Those colorful eggs created fun twice. Once during the hunt and the other during the fight. They also gave us a wonderful memory. The above photo is from a book I saw at Amazon.com. You can go there to find it and find out more about it or to buy it by clicking on the Amazon search button on the left.

Monday, April 17, 2006

The answer couldn't wait till tomorrow. Not sure if I would have time to post it so here it is. The man is Pete Duel. He was in some movies that were modest hits. He is better remembered for his TV shows. He co-starred in Gidget with Sally Fields. Later he was the star of Love On A Rooftop. In the 70's he co-starred with Ben Murphy in the western Alias Smith And Jones. They were two outlaws who wanted to go straight. The Governor gave them a pardon but they couldn't tell anyone. Till the Governor was sure they were on the straight and narrow it was a secret between the 3 of them. Their real names were Hayes and Curry but they were wanted with a price on their heads with those names. They decided to call themselves Smith and Jones. Suddenly the Governor died. He was the only one who knew of the pardon so it was more of a challange to stay straight. The show was an instant hit. It was perhaps the biggest hit of Pete Duel's career. Who knows what would have happened if he had lived longer. He may have become as big a TV star as Michael Landon. However, half way through the shows 2nd year Mr. Duel was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head on Dec. 31st 1971. It was ruled a suicide but it may have been an accident. He was given to fits of depression so it was not hard to imagine that he could have comitted suicide. However, someone who worked with him on the set said he always played with the prop guns and sometimes he would act like he was shooting himself. The night he died his girlfriend said that he had watched a basketball game on tv and was drinking heavily. She decided to go to bed early. Later she woke up to see Peter had entered the bedroom to get his gun. He told her "I'll see you later." Awhile later she said she heard a gunshot and went out to find him in the living room dead. Was it an accident or not? We may never know. You can go to Bearmanor Media to buy the book Alias Smith & Jones The Story of Two Pretty Good Bad Men by Sandra K. Sagala and JoAnne M. Bagwell. It is so sad that this talented man died so young.

It's time once again for DO YOU KNOW THIS MAN? He was a rising star in the 1960's in movies and television. His greatest fame came in television where he starred or co-starred in major sit-coms of the day. He reached the height of his fame in a light hearted western in the early 1970's. However while he was a talented actor he better known for how he died. Tune in tomorrow to see who this man is. If you refuse to wait that long you can click here to go to the site where this photo is from to get a very strong hint.

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, cam Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the andel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat up on it.His countenance was like lightning and his raiment white as snow:And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.And go wuickly, and tell his disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you,And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word.And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying,All Hail. And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped him.The said Jesus unto them,Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.So they took the money and did as they were taught: and this saying is the commonly reported among the Jews until this day.Then the eleven disciples went away in to Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted.And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost:Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.Matthew 28: 1-20 King James Version